Lot 39: THOMAS WILBERFORCE MITCHELL 1879 - 1958

THOMAS WILBERFORCE MITCHELL 1879 - 1958 ROAD BUILDING IN HALIBURTON signed, titled and dated lower right THOMAS W. MITCHELL, 1927 ; titled on two labels and inscribed twice Property of the Ontario Club on the stretcher on the reverse oil on canvas 147.3 by 167.6 cm. 58 by 66 in.

Ontario Society of Artists, Annual Exhibition, Toronto, 1928, no. 80

Canadian National Exhibition, 1928, no. 373

Ontario Society of Artists, Annual Exhibition, exhibition catalogue, Toronto, 1928, no. 80, illustrated on p. 19

Canadian National Exhibition, exhibition catlalogue, 1928, no. 373, illustrated, unpaginated

Private Collection, Toronto

Mitchell was a successful commercial artist and illustrator who was for a time the art director at Brigden's, a design firm run by Albert Robson and one that employed artists like Charles Comfort. He studied under George Reid and then in Philadelphia and was an exceptional painter, as this fine work shows

Early on, Albert Robson commented on Mitchell citing two important features in his art:

First his use of brilliant colour; he is interested in the effects of outdoor light, the sparkle of sunlight and shadow. The other feature is his choice of graphic and picturesque subjects, depicted with fine drawing and sincerity.